Younger sister pays back sibling by supporting her marathon run

By KEVIN LEWIS Herald Editor

Published 10:48 am, Saturday, February 11, 2012

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Courtesy PhotoSylvia Duquette (right) is helping her sister, leukemia survivor Esmeralda Vallejo, find sponsors for a marathon Vallejo plans to run this summer to raise money for The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. To donate go to www.teamintraining.org, click on "donate" then type in "Esmeralda Vallejo." less

Courtesy PhotoSylvia Duquette (right) is helping her sister, leukemia survivor Esmeralda Vallejo, find sponsors for a marathon Vallejo plans to run this summer to raise money for The Leukemia & Lymphoma ... more

Younger sister pays back sibling by supporting her marathon run

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Years ago, Sylvia Duquette spent plenty of time leaning on her oldest sister, Esmeralda Vallejo. Now, Sylvia is doing what she can to repay her in Esmeralda's time of need.

"I was her little sister who followed her around," Duquette recalled of their childhood, which included eight years in the San Fernando Valley before Joe and Lupe Cavazos moved their family back to Plainview after finding out their great-grandmother was dying of lung cancer.

"We grew up very close and lived here until I got married and moved to Dallas," Duquette said.

Then, in 1998, Duquette discovered she was pregnant.

"They had told me before that I wold never conceive, so this was very special," she said.

As the pregnancy progressed, everything was fine until the eighth month when Duquette's husband, Darrell, got sick.

"Two weeks after our daughter was born my husband was diagnosed with terminal cancer," Duquette said of Darrell, who served 16 years in the Army and Air Force. "He lived to see our daughter's first birthday then passed away three days later."

It was not an easy time for Duquette.

"I died when my husband died," she said, adding that she slipped into a deep depression. "I was in a dark place."

As a result, Vallejo moved to Dallas and became caregiver not only for her newborn niece, but also for her sister.

"She took over my role as mother," Duquette said. "She became a second mom to my baby, and my daughter loves and adores her just the same. She calls her ‘momma' too."

Vallejo also looked after Duquette.

"She would talk to me every day and tell me I needed to get better for my daughter's sake. She was there with me until I finally came to terms with my husband's death."

Duquette will be forever indebted to her sister, whom she calls her "hero."

"If she was not there, I don't know where my daughter or I would be today."

While living in Dallas, Vallejo met and married her husband, Alfredo Vallejo, on Feb. 22, 2008. Shortly after that, Vallejo began feeling sick. She eventually went to the doctor and underwent a battery of tests. Finally, in June 2009, doctors diagnosed the problem: leukemia.

Duquette knew the outlook for leukemia patients isn't always good as someone dies from the blood disorder every 10 minutes.

Knowing that, Duquette said she began reliving the dark time when her husband died of cancer.

"I went through the same feelings all over again," she said. "I was in shock."

Fortunately, this story has a happy ending.

"The good news was they caught (the leukemia) early enough to treat her with just a drug and not chemotherapy," Duquette said.

As a result, Vallejo's cancer is in remission.

"She still does not feel 100 percent well, but she is slowly coming around," Duquette said. "She is trying so hard to get her life back and sees 2012 as a positive year."

This is where Duquette, who is a student at Wayland Baptist University and hopes to become a nurse, wants to begin repaying her big sister for everything she has done for her through the years.

As Vallejo continues her recovery from leukemia, she plans to participate in her very first marathon this summer to raise money for The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society.

Duquette pointed out that the fundraiser will help bring in funds to help find a cure for the blood disease and also help patients who need treatment but can't afford it. Many patients are children, she added, as leukemia is considered the No. 1 cancer killer of kids.

Vallejo, who lives in Mansfield, began training for the marathon Feb. 1. That will give her close to six months to prepare before the event is held in San Diego in June.

"It's been kind of hard for her since she's taking her cancer pill," Duquette explained. "She gets very sick, but she's hanging in there."

Duquette's role in Vallejo's marathon participation is helping her raise $2,900.

"I am looking for sponsors to help my sister raise the money," she said. "I hope everyone who can will help her fight for this cause."

Anyone wanting to make a donation may do so through the The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society website at www.teamintraining.org. Click on donate then type in Esmeralda Vallejo.

"Any amount is appreciated, and you will help her fight for a cure," Duquette said. "It really means a lot to us."